The Mission

Chapter 9 Friends Saved

They all heard as the recent past was played, "I'm sure you felt what I was doing Ally." came Charles's voice.

"No Ally! There has to be another way, not this way," Alatem whispered.

"Yes Charles, I appreciate the effort, I have no choice either way if I don't activate it, the raiders will blow us out of space. If I do I will save all of you but I might never be again. Princess Alatem I would sacrifice myself for you anytime after all," Allie giggled, "I am you, engage Charles, and Cici?"

"Yes Ally?" replied Cici's voice.

"I've heard all this Alatem," Ally said.

"Let it finish Ally," Alatem answered.

"I love you," they heard Ally say. There was a momentary sound of ships exploding.

Suddenly there was silence then, "Ally?" Came a mournful Cici's voice, "ALLY! Talk to me please, talk to ... me."

The sound of Alatem crying muffled then an almost lost sounding Cici crying as he whispered "I love you, my beautiful Ally."

At that, there was no sound from anyone, then a slow and mournful crying erupted from Ally's speakers.

"NOOOO! Charles! You are the most brilliant human I have ever seen, please help my Cici!" Ally begged.

Charles could only stare at Alatem when it suddenly hit him what she'd done.

Deciding to play along Charles kept up the charade, "Why? He asked, "with IT gone you can get to know me better and have more time with Allie."

"Please Charles!" Ally was begging now, "I'll do anything! Please help my love, my Cici!"

"Alright," Charles said looking over at Alatem who was shaking her head, while she smirked at him. "I need you to take us back to my time as quickly as possible; from there I may be able to affect repairs to Cici."

"Please secure yourselves," Allie said between her sobs, "Engaging in five seconds."

Charles felt the ship accelerate then slip into the time stream. Adjusting his com, Charles started to gather all the tools he thought he'd need besides those on the station.

"two minutes 'til we emerge, I hope you can repair him. I have never seen a human your equal yet Charles." Charles could almost feel for Ally, from the sobbing that he was hearing he hoped she too, didn't shut down if this didn't work.

This time when they emerged, it was by far, smoother than had been in the last two slips. Looking at his com he saw that it was again working though it was just barely.

"Cici," called Charles, "we are on approach please prepare."

"Yes Charles," came an almost unemotional voice, "pad one is open for your arrival, will that be all?"

"No, I want you to run a level four diagnostic, I want the results when I make command," Charles commanded.

"Compliance, level four is running, I will be offline when you enter command. Read outs will be on the main screen." the mono-voice replied.

Dammit! Charles was afraid; if he didn't hurry he was going to lose all of his Cici. "Ally, transfer me immediately upon docking to command, I need to get there as fast as possible!" Charles ordered.

A frightened Ally began to move the ship as fast as she could, her sobs becoming louder.

Charles went to work as fast as he could, he couldn't remember the last time he was moving this fast.

Looking over the read outs he soon found the problem.

Opening up a special com line he soon had Cici talking. "Hello my friend, I see you've retreated back to here. I don't really see why you did but Cici, Ally is ok"